How to calculate your moving expenses

How to calculate your moving expenses

People choose to move for different reasons. Some people relocate because they want to chase down a dream job. Some want a fresh start. Others relocate just to have a breath of fresh air from their old scenery. Whatever the reason may be, a smart idea is to calculate your moving expenses, before you start your relocation. This way you will not be caught off guard by the prices of the actual move. Therefore will be able to accommodate all the needs life throws at you. That’s why we have compiled a list of things to do to make sure everything is in order once moving day comes.

Make a financial plan

Having a good financial plan is the key to success. It allows you to have a birds-eye-view of your daily expenditure. That way you know exactly when what and where you are spending the money you allocated for the actual move. And in that regard, we recommend that you divide your budget into two groups. Expenses before the move, and after the move. Which will, in turn, help you in the long run, spend the least amount of money, and will help you gain the most amount in return.

If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!

Expenses before the move

In this category we are enumerating all the costs you will have for the move, the actual prerequisites for the move, as well as the transportation. In that regard, you should keep an eye out on these following things.

How are you moving?

Depending on how do you plan to move, expenses may vary. There are several reasons to hire professional movers, that will, in turn, help you have a stress free and effortless move. On the other hand, some people prefer a do-it-yourself type of move, which also comes with its pros and cons. Whatever the case may be the weight of the choice falls on to you.

Hiring a moving company.

If you decide to hire a moving company you should take into consideration several factors. Firstly you should take into consideration that you will have to pay for the fees of that moving company you hired. Things like labor and fuel for transportation are included here. The best way to go about this is this way. Try and get free moving quotes from moving companies and calculate expenses that way. Also, a generally good idea is to pay for insurance on your most prized possessions. You should keep that in mind when calculating the expenses. On that note, if you have a pool table or you are moving a piano… Make sure what the policy of the moving company is on those types of belongings. Some charge extra, some do not. In that regard, check out art exhibit movers NYC.

If you do decide to hire a moving company, you might also want to look at the benefits of hiring professional packers for local moving. The general idea is that by paying a bit more you will have all your personal belongings packed in such a way that no damage comes to them during the actual move.

DIY move

If on the other hand, you decide to move on your own, there are a few things to keep in mind. First thing, you want to make sure you have enough budget to rent a truck and pay for the gas. Especially if you are moving long distances. A useful tool here is online calculators. They will tell you how much miles to a gallon you can expect from the truck. Of course, if you are not hiring professional movers and packers… You are going to need to gather the supplies (such as boxes and wrapping paper) as well as other equipment (dollies and loading ramps) that will help you with the move. And lastly, make sure you have saved up some spare cash. This might save you from a sticky situation. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Make sure you have insurance on your fragile items, as they can be damaged during the move if not done properly!

Expenses after the move

After you have calculated the above-mentioned costs, another important formula to add to the equation is to figure out what relocation costs after the move. The other side of moving is to figure out what relocation costs after the fact. Things like, payment for rent, property tax, getting new furniture and decorations, general maintenance, etc.

Also, keep in mind that after you move you will have to spend a few dollars here and there on things like restaurants, movies and entertainment in general. This number surely be even bigger if a newborn enters the picture. However, if you are moving to a new area with a higher cost of living, you might want to cut back on the non-essential stuff, such as eating out.

If you are trying to save up on cash, you might have to skimp out on shopping.

In conclusion – what is the best way to calculate your moving expenses?

For the sake of argument let’s say you are moving to Bay Ridge, New York. In order to calculate your moving expenses, the best thing to do is make a financial plan. This is done by asking the right questions. And the most important thing you can ask is – how am I going to do this move? Am I going to try and do it alone, or with the help of a moving company? If the latter is true, you might want to check out Bay Ridge movers for an awesome deal. However, if the former is true – there are certain costs you need to take into account. The costs of renting a truck, paying taxes, etc. However, whatever your choice may be we hope that this article provided you with a general idea of what costs you can expect when moving, and how to prepare for them.